Meet the world's first children's smartphone that blocks nude content

O HMD Fuse represents an unprecedented advancement in the children's smartphone market by integrating cutting-edge technology and digital security. Developed by Human Mobile Devices (HMD) in partnership with SafeToNet and Vodafone, the device emerges as an innovative solution, bringing advanced parental controls and the system HarmBlock+, capable of automatically blocking nude content before it's even captured or viewed. Learn all about the new feature:

How HDM Fuse Blocks Nude Content

A Human Mobile Devices (HMD), in partnership with SafeToNet and Vodafone, combined technology and social responsibility to launch the HMD Fuse, the world's first smartphone protected with HarmBlock+This initiative is the result of years of research with more than 37 thousand parents and children in several countries, who raised the same concern: there was no truly reliable device to protect children in the digital environment. Based on these findings, HMD developed a smartphone that combines technological innovation, real-time security, and intelligent parental controls, launching a category of devices aimed at families.

This movement gains even more relevance given the growing debate about the premature adultification of children online, a topic that has returned to the forefront of public debate following the viral video by content creator Felca and the federal government's recent guidelines on child digital safety. According to research released by Vodafone, one in five school-age children has felt pressured to share explicit images, and nearly two-thirds of this content ended up being shared without consent.

“We believe this will be the most impactful smartphone launch of the year. We've created not just a new phone, but a new category. One that recognizes children's evolving needs and puts safety at the center of the experience from day one. When you give your child a smartphone, you bring a stranger and unknown dangers into your home. You can't see them online all the time, but now you have the peace of mind of knowing they're protected even when you can't be there, all without compromising their privacy. That's why we believe this is a big step toward making phones safer.”

—James Robinson, vice president of HMD.

The key differentiator of the HMD Fuse is that nudity blocking occurs on the device itself, directly on the camera and screen. This means that even before a photo is saved, sent, or viewed, HarmBlock AI kicks in, preventing the capture of sexual content. Unlike external control apps, which can be uninstalled or bypassed, the feature is integrated into the smartphone's operating system, ensuring continuous protection that's more difficult to compromise.

To achieve this level of effectiveness, HarmBlock AI was trained with over 22 million nude images deemed harmful, in an ethical and responsible process. The goal is not to monitor children, but to create an automatic filter capable of recognizing and blocking nudity patterns in real time. The feature works on photos, youtube and even live streams, something unprecedented among the digital security solutions available to date.

“This is a red line. HarmBlock+ cannot be removed, tricked, or bypassed. It doesn't collect personal data. It simply protects all the time, across all apps, including VPNs, without any loopholes. We're seeing a rise in online peer-to-peer abuse and child exploitation. This is the first and only AI to prevent it. In essence, we've made HMD Fuse porn-incompatible.”

— Richard Pursey, founder of SafeToNet.

One of parents' biggest concerns is that their children will find loopholes through alternative apps or browsers. HMD Fuse eliminates this possibility, as HarmBlock+ cannot be uninstalled, tricked, or bypassed. It remains active 24/7, ensuring safety in any situation, whether at home, at school, or during online leisure time.

Other features

The HMD Fuse runs Android 15 and comes equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) processor, Octa-core CPU (2×2,2 GHz Cortex-A78 + 6×2,0 GHz Cortex-A55) and Adreno GPU 613, delivering sufficient performance for everyday tasks, browsing, videos, and light gaming, as well as natively supporting parental control and HarmBlock+ protection features. With 6 GB of RAM e 128 GB Internal Storage, the device offers adequate space for photos, videos and applications, with the possibility of expansion.

The HMD Fuse camera array includes a 108 MP + 2 MP rear, with features like AI HDR, Night mode 3.0 with RAW processing, Panorama, Smart EIS, Flash Shot 2.0, and Tripod mode, plus 3x lossless digital zoom, allowing you to capture detailed photos even in challenging lighting conditions. 50 MP front camera It offers selfie gestures, Selfie Slo-mo and skin tone optimization, making it ideal for video calls and selfies, with superior quality to most children's smartphones available on the market.

In connectivity and extra features, the HMD Fuse offers 5G, Wi-Fi dual-band (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax-ready), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC e USB Type-C, ensuring fast and stable connection. Among the security features, the following stand out: side fingerprint reader, Face Unlock and IP54 certification against dust and splashes of water. The device also integrates the SafeToNet app for parental control, reinforcing its focus on children and young people.

Price and availability

HMD Fuse is now available on United Kingdom, being marketed exclusively by Vodafone UK, in physical stores and on the operator's official website. The device can be purchased from £ 33 per month, totaling £ 498With the merger of Vodafone and Three, the smartphone also became available to customers of the latter, expanding its distribution in the country.

The global launch of HMD Fuse is scheduled for the coming months, with the Australia among the first international markets to receive the device. The purchase includes two sets of cases, one equipped with a foldable LED ring light that surrounds the camera, providing even illumination for photos and videos. Made from 100% recycled TPU, the cases offer extra protection against impacts and drops during use.

Specification table

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See also:

Sources: Vodafone e HMD.

reviewed by Gabriel Princessval in 21 / 08 / 2025